Alibaba's India HQ will likely be in Bengaluru; scouts for 20,000 sqft space in city

Chinese e-commerce heavyweight Alibaba's Indian operations are likely to be headquartered in Bengaluru, which is also the base for American rival Amazon and local leader Flipkart.Avik Das | TNN | Updated: August 18, 2016, 15:32 IST

Alibaba Group

Chinese e-commerce heavyweight Alibaba's Indian operations are likely to be headquartered in Bengaluru, which is also the base for American rival Amazon and local leader Flipkart.

Alibaba is scouting for 20,000 sqft of corporate office space in the country's technology capital to launch operations by end of the current calendar or early next year.

The initial office space requirement is for 150-200 people, with options to take up more later, sources familiar with the matter said. Senior Alibaba officials, including K Guru Gowrappan, have been involved in the decision-making on office space. No final decision has been taken yet.

Alibaba could not be reached for comments immediately. Recently, Rakuten, an e-commerce company - often referred to as Japan's Alibaba - also opened an office in Bengaluru as part of its India-entry plan.

Bengaluru, with a large pool of technology workers and a vibrant startup ecosystem, has become the entry point for internet giants looking to expand in the world's fastest growing economy.

Earlier this year, NYSE-listed Alibaba, currently valued at $241 billion, had announced it would start a business-to-consumer online marketplace in India.

Alibaba group president Michael Evans and global MD, K Guru Gowrappan, had met former IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to discuss the same during their visit to India in March. When it sets up its India base in Bengaluru, Alibaba will follow in the footsteps of Amazon and Flipkart. It's initially expected to hire 150-200 people.